That is to say, I had nothing nice to say, so I was saying nothing. (It’s in the manifesto, so…)

It was for the best, really.

Now, here we are a full week later and I can honestly say that even though some things are still “kooky” I feel much better now.

It’s Easter! It’s Spring! It’s sunny! The world is filled with newfound joy that comes each year on this day. The Easter Bunny found us and brought lots of nice chocolate for Thing 1 & Thing 2, some fun and unique old fashioned candy treats and a few new sunny weather items. There’s nothing like some new sidewalk chalk, sunglasses and a fedora to make everything right in the world of a child. (and a parent*… seriously.. gleefully happy with the fedoras!)

All day I have had a song in my head. It’s my happy, springtime, hopeful song. May I share?

Okay. First though, you should know that these lyrics have been ingrained in my brain since I was about 12 (Thing 1’s age!) and the reason I know them is because I was blessed to have an amazing, smart, funny, excellent, musically talented, music teacher, choir director (and later, English Lit. teacher (See? Awesome, right?), but I digress..) when I was a kid!

Isn’t it reassuring? Watching the buds appear?

Isn’t it great? Spring to await!

Watchin’ the landscape rejuvenate! Oh,

Doesn’t it lift your spirit? Doesn’t make you glad?

Isn’t it keen? Viewin’ the scene!

Watchin’ the grass turn green!

The winter’s gone now and the snow!

Seeds burstin’ below!

Cold’s over at last!

And everything’s starting to grow!

Doesn’t it make you happy? Doesn’t it make you see?
Part of the plan, given to man,
ever since time began?

But nevertheless, I can confess, just between you and me,
That it’s good to see it happening, so nice to see it happening
So great to see it happening

Anew! Anew!
And reassuring toooooo!

Easter, always seems to bring with it the exact kind of weather Easter deserves. It comes just in the nick of time after a long winter and this year, quite frankly, a rather sketchy start to spring.

Today was a great day to be outside, so after all the Easter Bunny shenanigans and a nice brunch, that is exactly where we went. We headed to one of our favourite local parks, near the water, and played, walked, wandered, explored, enjoyed nature, collected shells and rocks, took pictures and made friends with a snail!

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Despite the earlier stresses of the week, I had a great time. I really am a nature baby. I need it. So do my Thing 1 and Thing 2. I would argue so do *all* of you, too, if pressed. I will try not to be too bossy, though, and just strongly suggest that if you missed an outing today you have a shot at another tomorrow. (Don’t make me come over there. Go outside and play!)

Thing 1 & Thing 2 love this play structure.

Thing 2 sliding a new way. You can’t do these “tricks” at school!

Thing 1 was sideways seconds before the camera *clicked*.

Bedford Basin is Beautiful.

Some nice, flat stones for skipping.

Exploring at the water’s edge.

Looking for that elusive “perfect” flat rock.

Three little snail pals on a big rock.

That’s a skip!

Lots of ducks in the Basin today. Some were *ahem* dating.

BARNACLES!

Can you see the pretty opalescent colours inside this mussel shell?

Thing 2 ready to launch.

I really love it here. Truly.

Trees make me happy.

One last swing trick!

Thing 1 made this little rock sculpture.

And reassuring, toooo!

Yes.

So, tell me, how was your day? Do you celebrate Easter? Are you celebrating Passover? Are you happy it’s spring and the weather is finally starting to show it?

*The Easter Bunny was very kind, as he is every year, and brought one small, very good quality, dark chocolate bunny, each to Daddy-O & me**.

**This year the ol’ EB also got wise and brought some special, high protein, healthy snacks for me. Go, EB! You rock!

Oh, April darling. You are the funniest month yet. I just can’t get enough of your amazing sense of humour and jovial, bringing-all-the-yuks-all-the-time ways.*

Yes. It is April Fool’s Day. Yes. Atlantic Canada is having another spring storm. Oh, I know that it’s “winter” weather, but a few days ago in a brief moment of clarity, in the 35 minute window of calm, before yet another storm front, a friend decided maybe Spring was feeling snubbed with all the “Winter” storm reporting and was merely waiting for a mention, to take its place in the limelight, so I stopped saying winter. Yes. Even though there was a blizzard blowing outside my window.

Did it work?

It totally did!

APRIL FOOLS!!!

Of course it didn’t work, because this winter is NEVER going to end. EVER!

We are at home yet again. It’s Tuesday. That’s a refreshing change** from Wednesday, isn’t it? The school buses were cancelled and as per our policy*** so, too, was school.

We knew there would be freezing rain today, but we really didn’t believe it would be followed by more snow and blowing snow and falling snow and snowing snow and snow snow snow snow snow! Oops! Sorry. Forgive me. It’s all been a bit much to handle.

Thank goodness for Things who know how to entertain themselves****, a husband who can work from home when the weather is stormy and a sense of humour that is firmly in place, because otherwise I would absolutely be adopting hermitage as a valid life choice. I live pretty close to the edge of hermitage, these days, anyway. I mean, it’s not like I can go anywhere in this yucky weather and we have enough cereal for a Seinfeld episode, so we won’t starve. Maybe we should just take that final leap?

Welcome to the new YMC Community location on Hoth. Hoth Coffee. Hoth Mummy. Both Cranky.

Oh, ha ha! April Fool’s! Good one!

Wait. What?!

Isn’t *that* the question on everyone’s mind?!

Blowing snow. Miserable.

Not great visibility.

Glad to be inside.

More of the same.

Can we see buds through the snow and ice?

Is it better that they are not encrusted in ice?

This was after an overnight and all morning freezing rain fest!

It’s easier to see snow against something dark, like the souls of Maritimers who are just *so* sick of snow. 🙂

**There has been a “weather event” every Wednesday since December (pretty much) in The Maritimes.

***It’s in the manifesto!

****There was a Disney Channel marathon, some CPU time, an awesome animal rescue invention building session, some reading, a game of “Guess Who? Mix n’ Mash”, and a rousing game of “Can You Escape?”. Yup.

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Oh, yeah. Suuuuuure it does.

A very blustery view. Thankful to be inside, safe and warm.

I had such hope for these planters and solar lights. *sighs*

As the day went on, the buildings across the street began to vanish.

The snow doesn’t usually cover the patio this way. You can (maybe) see evidence of the plow, but that was gone pretty quickly.

*sings* This is the storm that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends. Some clou-ouds started snowing it not knowing what it was and they’ll continue snowing it forever just because…. This is the storm that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends. Some clou-ouds started snowing it not knowing what it was and they’ll continue snowing it forever just because…. This is the storm that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends. Some clou-ouds started snowing it not knowing what it was and they’ll continue snowing it forever just because…. This is the storm that never ends…

{There will be a *very* short video of the blizzard here as soon as it’s processed by YouTube. One assumes there is a backlog of blizzard, snowpocalypse, snowmageddon, sprinter videos for poor YouTube to process. That’s okay, YouTube. I understand.}

*head desk*

It is now 12:45 AM and the blizzard still blows.

The only question on my mind at the moment is whether or not Thing 1 and Thing 2 will have school later today. I am predicting a repeat snow day.

Winter has gone on far too long this year, but guess what! In a few weeks it will be warmer and sunnier and I will want to feel better than I do right now and ALL the aforementioned things that may or may not have happened (Who’s to say, really?) over the winter will come running back to me and haunt me with all the woulda, coulda, shoulda uselessness of hindsight. Oh, hindsight! Why must you be 20/20? You are such a jerk!

But! (No no… it’s okay… this time. Really. I’m going somewhere here.)

It’s not too late! We have time to make a positive change*. You. Me. All of us! We have to start today, though. Right this minute, even.

I will use the body I have to get the body I want. I don’t need a gym. No one needs a gym. Right? I do have Peady Powers after all.

I know what to eat to fuel me. I know that being happy is a choice. I know that going outside as often as possible is good for my brain. I know that the ONE thing I can do today and everyday that I have been avoiding is moving. Oh sure, I can run and play with my kids and I can walk really, really far, but I want to be able to just move more and better as I get older. I don’t want to feel hindered by my age or attitude. I know age is inevitable. I know my attitude is a positive one. The trouble is, I lack confidence in my body and its ability to grow old gracefully.

For instance, right now I know I have committed to do something and I know it will be good for me and won’t take much time, but I am sore. Good sore, mind you, but sore nonetheless. So I have to talk myself into doing it**. Telling you is helping. (Thanks!) I am going to do it though. Right now. I’ll be back. (pfft As if you’d know! You just have to trust me… )

My friend Sheila is a licenced Zumba instructor and has a sincere interest in all things fitness. She is a great influence and a staunch supporter in my quest for better health. She wasn’t always the fitness enthusiast she is today. She has her own journey and reasons for taking charge of her health. We have been friends for a decade or so and we have been witness to lots of life’s ups and downs – including those of the scale variety. I asked her if I could use a quote of hers for this post and being the awesome person she is, of course, she said yes.

“My wake up moment was when I decided I was too young to feel that way. I was not willing to give in to all the little things. I wanted more out of life and I refused to accept all those little discomforts as just part of aging. Yes it’s part of aging if you don’t take care of your body.

I am hitting reboot on my eating habits and exercising. Don’t worry. I haven’t gone too bonkers. I just need to be healthier and there’s no time like the present, right? I am at a place in my life where I need to feel empowered and strong. I have some pretty amazing support. A best friend who will help me to get out and walk as often as possible, a group or two of like-minded people sharing ideas, successes and advice, and a faraway friend who is on her own mission to keep healthy, even as time keeps reminding us of its constant passing.

I am a firm believer of everything in moderation – including moderation!

Honestly, I am. Sort of. Wait. Do the Ruffles count? Oh, never mind. The point is there’s change in the air and I am ready to not only embrace it, but I am also willing and able to cheer you on, too!

So, maybe, just maybe we can get our buts in gear, get our butts ingear AND get our butts in gear! I say we give it a go! Who’s with me?